Highway marker



Dec. 28, 1943. e. R. ABBOTT HIGHWAY MARKER Filed Apiil 11, 1941 gvwe/Mom GHEENFHNDOLPH H550 7'7.

Patented Dec. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention refers to street markers in gen- 'eral and more particularly to a light reflecting device placeable on the highway surface itself for providing marks for night-time driving. It has among its objects to provide a light reflecting device that may be placed on the surface of the highway or portions adjacent thereto; to have such reflecting device of a form that will produce reflections from a large area of directions and in a very deep and conspicuous manner. A further object is to produce in the device an arrangement for increasing the reflective action by using surfaces adjacent to the reflector itself for providing secondary reflection and illumination. Another object is to provide an arrange ment for holding the reflection unit that will afford facile attachment or replacement. Still another object is to have a complete unit formed for holding the reflector, its base and all incidental means required in a very compact form, having features of interchangeability, portability, wearability, and effectiveness for the purposes intended. Also to provide an arrangement of reflecting units that will be particularly efiective because of their compelling attraction to their location and position.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

Reflectors of various types and forms are in use for highway illumination in an indirect manner. The reflector in this invention are utilized at night or in the dark, by reflecting the light rays coming from the vehicle lights approaching them; and during the daytime by reflecting the rays of light from the sun.. The light from the moon will also illuminate the device at other times. This invention makes use of ball-like articles of glass or plastic of suitable transparency, magnification and reflectability. The ball-like pieces are placed in sockets provided in a curved or tapering surface of a holder, in such a manner as to place them out of the way of injury or damage, yet developing surfaces for bringing out elongated reflections about the sockets in a secondary manner from the reflections produced by the balls, in the primary manner. The secondary reflections are arranged to form a contrasting and conspicuous illumination for the drivers of the approaching vehicles to notice, particularly as their headlights light them up. The ball-like pieces are not only out of the Way but form reflections that appear to be of noticeably depth, due to their form. The arrangements for holding them permit them to be readily placed or replaced. The form of the holder is effective for highway use and involves no difficulties in construction and production. The reflectors themselves with their side-by-side arrangement and their socket Walls has a compelling effect that attracts attention strongly and thereby makes drivers cognizant of their location and motive. The shape of the marker structure permits vehicles to run over same Without damage to the vehicle, or the parts of the marker.

In the drawing, which are used to illustrate a form of the invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the highway reflector device embodying this invention, in a simpler form;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front end view of Figure l Figure 4 is a front end view of a modified form of the device;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation through a highway reflector device having its base in sections and its reflector units mechanically held in place therein;

Figure 6 is another modified form with arrangements for locking the pieces holding the reflector units adjustably in place.

Figure '7 is a sectional elevation through modifled form shown in Figure 6 taken along line 7-! of Figure 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

In the drawing, 1:" represents a base of a highway marker, with its bottom surface 2 formed to rest on the highway in a horizontal position. The shape of the marker follows the outline of an elipse with the end portions 3 somewhat restricted or pointed. The upper surface 4 is curved on spherical lines to permit an unobstructing passage thereover by the wheels of a vehicle and with little chance of being pushed out of position. Each of the end portions 3 is grooved out to form sockets 5 with a barrier 6 between. The sockets extend into the base sufiiciently to take a pair of horizontal reflecting units 20 of plastic or other suitable material very completely, allowing only small curved or rounded portions 1 to extend out. The walls 3 of the socket extend out beyond the pockets 9 of the sockets and form reflecting surfaces beyond them which the reflected rays of light from the units 26 illuminate. They also grade downwards 5! to shed dirt, mud or rain. The units are pressed and held frictionally in place or with the use of a suitable cement III. The backs H of the sockets are treated, painted or lined at 12 to make the units more eflective in reflecting back the lightrays from the headlights on the vehicles. This form is the simplest structure considered in this specification. Anchor element 60 holds the base to the cement.

In the modified form indicated in Figure 4, three units are provided the original pair 20 being supplemented by another unit 30 placed towards the end of the barrier 6 and having its auxiliary reflecting surface I3 in front of it, as shown.

Both of the above forms are attached to the highway by central bolts l4 passing through passages l5 in the bases and anchored to the roadbed [6. The heads ll of the bolts are recessed in the countersinks l8 in the bases, in order to ing along the highway. The running of heavy vehicles over the bases does not injure the plastic units because the latter are set back and have a resiliency that lessens their brittleness under strains made in the material of the bases.

In the modified form indicated in Figure 5, the base is made in sections 2i, 22, and 23 that fit with each other, but provide a similar contour to Figure 1. Their sockets are provided with annular grooves 24 that serve to enclose flanges 25 formed on the periphery of the units. The purpose of these grooves and flanges is to hold the units mechanically within the pockets of the sockets. The units are placed in the sections 2!, 22, and 23 before tightening down on the anchor bolt I4. When bolted down to the highway or other surface, the sections lock the units within themselves.

In the modified form indicated in Figurefi, the base is formed in several parts that enable the sockets 5 and reflecting units 20 to be in separate members 26 adapted to coordinate with the base piece 3|. The base piece is formed with flat surface 32 longitudinally along its middle with upright side parts 33 along each side of the surface The various forms of the device all function similarly. The reflecting units 20 are made longer than usual since the system of pockets 9 permit it. This depth of the unit gives depth to the reflection and makes a more active and magnified reflection when viewed directly in front. The units are protected from light rays coming from above, as they are shielded from that direction. The walls 8 accentuate the reflection by their secondary illumination and increase the area of attraction. This makes the reflections from the head lights develop more quickly and retain their reflective action longer than would be the case without them. They make the re- -flections appear straighter in the direction of .giude himself by. Thus in practice, it has been found empirically, that the units in bases as described will be picked out by the driver at a thousand feet distance.

This was about'four times that obtained from conventional types of reflector units, under similar conditions.

While several forms of the invention are shown in the drawings and described in the application,

32 mentioned. The side parts 33 are formed similarly to the outline indicated in Figure 1. The central portion 34 is made in the form of a boss. The inner faces 33 of the side walls 33 are undercut and the sides 35 of the members 26 are tapered to wedge within them when pushed forward towards the end portions 3. The surfaces 31 of the members are tapered as shown in order to permit a keystone element 38 to fit therebetween and wedge them into locking contact with the base. The sockets are similar to those shown in Figure 1, with pockets 9, walls 8 and the lining at 2. The keystone element and the base structure have passages 33 and 40 respectively for the bolt I4 to pass through them and hold the whole device to the surface selected.

it is not desired to limit the same to such forms or in another wayotherwise than limited by the scope thereof as it is appreciated that other formsand structures could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A highway reflector device comprising in combination, an elliptically formed base divided into plural interlocking sections contoured to give an arcuate upper surface to the base, said base having relatively j long socket and self draining grooves therein and barriers in between same-to space same apart, a plurality of reflecting units having long bodies adapted to fit throughout the length of the said grooves and with flanges for locking same into the basewhen the sections are assembled together and an anchor bolt for holding the sections together and to the highway, said bolt being disposedto allowfor adjustments of the device to suit the surface of the highway and the contacts between the sections.

GHEEN R. ABBOTT. 

